Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Open Road Films has acquired all North American rights to the romantic comedy HOME AGAIN, which will star Reese Witherspoon. The film was written by Hallie Meyers-Shyer and will be directed by Meyers-Shyer in her directorial debut. Nancy Meyers is producing alongside Black Bicycle Entertainment’s Erika Olde, who also financed the film. The deal was announced today by Tom Ortenberg, CEO of Open Road Films.

Open Road Films also announced that Michael Sheen (Frost/Nixon, Masters Of Sex), Nat Wolff (Paper Towns, The Fault in Our Stars), and Lake Bell (No Escape, Childrens Hospital) have joined the cast.

HOME AGAIN is the story of a recently separated mother of two (Witherspoon) whose new life in Los Angeles is overturned when she decides to take in three young, charismatic guys who become part of her unconventional family.
The film is scheduled to begin production in fall of 2016 and is expected to be released in the U.S. in fourth quarter 2017. MadRiver is selling the international rights to HOME AGAIN.

"HOME AGAIN is a funny and sparkling script that will be brought to life by the incomparable Reese Witherspoon,” stated Ortenberg. “Nancy Meyers has brought audiences some of their all-time favorites and has a proven track record at the box office. We are proud to be in business with this family and the entire team.”

The deal was negotiated on behalf of Open Road Films by Tom Ortenberg, CEO, and Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, Elliott Kleinberg. Creative Artists Agency negotiated on behalf of the filmmakers.

Meyers-Shyer is represented by WME. Witherspoon, Meyers, Black Bicycle, and Wolff are represented by CAA; Sheen by ICM and Bell by UTA.

ABOUT OPEN ROAD FILMS
Open Road Films is a leading, independent, theatrical motion picture company, releasing a diverse slate of star-driven films, which has included multiple #1 releases and enormous critical response. The company was founded in 2011 by AMC Entertainment Inc. (AMC) and Regal Entertainment Group (Regal), the two largest theatrical exhibition companies in the United States. The uniquely formed company is widely known as a filmmaker-focused distributor that supports both box office hits and top prestige titles.

Open Road Films led the 2016 critically acclaimed film Spotlight to win the Oscar® for Best Picture, becoming the youngest studio in history to win the big prize. The film, which earned almost $45 million at the U.S. box-office, stars Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, Brian d’Arcy James, Stanley Tucci and Billy Crudup was directed by Tom McCarthy, who also won the Oscar® for Best Original Screenplay, with his co-writer (and executive producer) Josh Singer. Spotlight has won numerous high profile critics and guild awards, including the Screen Actors Guild Best Ensemble Award and the Film Independent Spirit Award for Best Feature Film. Spotlight also appeared on over 250 critics’ Top Ten lists for 2016.

Other notable Open Road Films releases include: Nightcrawler, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, which took the #1 spot at the box-office during its opening week and received an Oscar® nomination for Best Original Screenplay, along with a Golden Globe nomination – it was named one of the best films of 2014 by the AFI and National Board of Review and top critics nationwide; the hit film Chef, written by, directed by and starring Jon Favreau along with Sofia Vergara, Scarlett Johansson, John Leguizamo, Bobby Cannavale, Oliver Platt, Dustin Hoffman and Robert Downey, Jr.; The Nut Job, which opened to over $25 million at the box office as the highest ever opening for an independent animated film; The Grey, directed by Joe Carnahan and starring Liam Neeson, which opened #1 at the box office; End Of Watch, directed by David Ayer and starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña, which opened #1 at the box office; Rosewater, written and directed by Jon Stewart; A Haunted House starring Marlon Wayans; and Side Effects, directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Rooney Mara, Jude Law, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Channing Tatum.